Mangú, rabo and ‘sushi aplatanao’: Here’s where to go for Dominican food in Miami
Dominicans are the fourth largest Hispanic immigrant group in the United States. With Spanish, Taino and African influences, the cuisine of the Dominican Republic presents a unique mix of flavors and traditions. Below are some of the best places in the Miami area to enjoy authentic Dominican food.
1. Club Típico Dominicano
Open since 1985, Club Típico Dominicano is the oldest Dominican restaurant in Miami. Located in the heart of Allapattah, a historically Dominican neighborhood, it is run by Jasmely Jackson, better known to patrons as “Jazz.” The restaurant was founded by her father, Luis De La Cruz. She keeps it running weekdays as a family restaurant and turns it into a Latin nightclub on the weekends after 10 p.m.
“We wanted to provide a place where people can feel at home, not only with our menu, but also with the music and the atmosphere,” said Jackson.
The most popular dish on the menu, according to Jackson, is the oxtail stew, a Dominican favorite.
1344 NW 36th St., Miami
2. Mi Tierra
Scarlet and Stanley Ferrand moved to Miami from New York three years ago and started their food truck inspired by Scarlet’s grandmother’s recipes, her hometown of New York, and the new dishes they created together with Scarlet’s family.
The most popular item on the menu is a new twist on a Dominican favorite: the empanada taco.
“My husband wanted some empanadas for dinner one day, but I wanted to make something a little bigger. He was making the empanadas for our family when I got the idea to open them up, add some pico de gallo and salsa. We all loved the new idea of turning our empanadas into tacos, so we added them to our menu,” said Scarlet.
1801 SW Third Ave., Miami
3. Limón y Cilantro
Limón y Cilantro has been in Hialeah for four years and perfectly blends Puerto Rican, Cuban and Dominican cuisines. Fabiola López, the owner, says that her restaurant has a motto: “We cook with love.”
The restaurant is a celebration of Caribbean culture, but their most popular dish is traditional Dominican breakfast.
“Cuatro golpes” (four hits) is a typical Dominican breakfast that will give you enough energy for the day with mangú, salami, chorizo and fried cheese. Another popular dish at Limón y Cilantro is the goat. Aside from these popular dishes, they also have fan favorites from Puerto Rico and Cuba like mofongo and sancocho.
7380 W. 20th Ave., Hialeah
4. Mi Conukito
Mi Conukito, located in North Miami, has offered traditional Dominican cuisine for 15 years. Yosahira Coleman opened the restaurant after coming from the Dominican Republic to provide Dominicans in Miami with authentic food, from traditional picaderas to mangú and more.
1099 NW 119th St., North Miami
5. El Tiesto Cafe
El Tiesto Café in Miami is a symbiosis of Dominican and Japanese cuisines. Customers can find their traditional favorites there, but be prepared for new concepts with Japanese favorites.
The most popular dish at El Tiesto is “sushi aplatanao,” which owner Reynaldo Cuevas calls Dominican sushi. It is a mix of Japanese sushi with elements of a traditional Dominican dish, such as fried cheese, salami and sweet plantain.
Cuevas also owns another Dominican restaurant in Miami, called Made in DR Wynwood.
3023 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
This story was originally published September 6, 2022 at 1:11 PM with the headline "Mangú, rabo and ‘sushi aplatanao’: Here’s where to go for Dominican food in Miami."